The Story of the Origin of the World's Strangest Book

THIS WEEK IN MORMON HISTORY    

The Story Of The Origin Of The World’s Strangest Book

OF all the features of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, none is more distinctive than its contribution to the world of the Book of Mormon. September 22 marks the 109th anniversary of the coming forth of the records from which this strange volume was translated. This book, which now sells 50,000 copies each year in 17 different languages, indeed has a unique and wondrous story surrounding its origin. Only an abbreviated account is enough to convince one of this fact. The story, in brief, follows:

Three years after the Prophet Joseph Smith witnessed that first glorious theophany, in which he beheld God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, the unlearned farmer boy received another manifestation from the heavens. This vision came to him in the same vicinity as did the first—in western New York State, though the first one was received in a grove, whereas Joseph’s bedroom was the setting of the second. The Prophet, at the time, was 17 years of age and the year was 1823. Before retiring to his bed in the Smith log dwelling on the night of September 21, the lad knelt in fervent prayer. While he was yet in supplication, his room became filled with light, and in the midst of it a resurrected, heavenly personage, whose “countenance was truly like lightning,” appeared and called the boy by name. The heavenly herald announced himself as Moroni. Clothed in “a loose robe of exquisite whiteness,” he told Joseph that he (Moroni) had been sent as a messenger from God, and that the Lord had a great work for the youth to perform. Moroni informed him that deposited in a nearby hill were some records on gold plates, containing an abridged history of former inhabitants of the American continents, that the records also contained the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Saviour to these ancient people of the Western Hemisphere. After quoting considerable Scripture to the lad, Moroni disappeared. (In subsequent revelations, the Prophet learned that Moroni was the last of a long line of prophets whose translated writings comprise the Book of Mormon; it was this same Moroni who, in mortality, had closed the ancient records and deposited them about 421 A.D. in the earth where they had been preserved through the centuries.)

While the Prophet was yet reflecting on this heavenly incident, the Angel again appeared, rehearsed his previous instructions and departed. This was repeated a third time during the same night.

In the harvesting field the following day, Joseph was overcome while attempting to climb over a fence. Regaining consciousness, he beheld the presence of the same heavenly messenger who had visited him the previous night. Moroni again repeated his message, impressing the lad with the import of the mission before him and warning him against future temptations.

On the same day the Prophet visited the hill described by Moroni as the place where the plates were deposited. The hill, about four miles south of the town of Palmyra, New York and about two miles distant from the Smith home, is known as Cumorah (see cut). On the precise spot on the hill designated by Moroni, Joseph found a large stone, and under it a box, also of stone. Raising the lid by means of a lever, he beheld within the box the plates, along with two stones in silver bows, fastened to a breastplate. The Angel had told the Prophet that these instruments composed the Urim and Thummim, possession of which constituted “seers” in ancient times, and that God had provided them for the purpose of translating the book.

As the lad was about to remove the contents of the box, Moroni again appeared before him, forbidding him to take the sacred treasures at that time. He told Joseph that four years must transpire before the records would be committed to his personal custody.

Meanwhile, he explained, Joseph would be required to visit the place at yearly intervals. This the Prophet did, on each occasion receiving additional instructions from Moroni regarding the records and their purpose.

On September 22, 1827 the Angel delivered the gold plates to the youthful revelator. They were about eight inches in length and seven inches in width. They were fastened together with three rings and formed a volume about six inches thick. Each plate was a sheet somewhat thinner than ordinary tin, and was engraved with Reformed Egyptian characters on both sides.

Joseph proceeded with the work of translation. As he transcribed the words, he dictated them to an amanuensis who wrote them as they fell from his lips. Three secretaries at different times did this work. They were the Prophet’s wife (Emma Hale Smith), Martin Harris, a fairly well-to-do farmer in the sector, and Oliver Cowdery, a school teacher. The translating was completed about July 1, 1829. The original copies, printed on the hand press of E. B. Grandin and Company of Palmyra, New York, were released for sale March 26, 1830—11 days before the Church was organized.

That is a cursory account of how the Book of Mormon came forth. For more than a century critics of the Church have attempted to disprove its claims, but without avail. They have projected various theories, but they do not reach an agreement. On the other hand, the number of believers in Mormonism has constantly been on the increase. Nearly one million souls comprise the membership of the Church today. Numbered among this great host of people accepting the divine origin of the Book of Mormon are some of America’s leading statesmen, eminent scientists in the various fields and practical business men and community leaders who are respected for their soundness, sincerity and integrity.

Evidence certifying the authenticity of the Book of Mormon is ever expanding. Here are but a few of the many supporting facts: Twelve persons, including the Prophet, solemnly testified (their testimonies appear on the flyleaf of the printed Book) that they saw and handled the gold plates from which the record was taken. None of them ever denied that affirmation, though some of them became estranged from the Church and bitter enemies of Joseph Smith. The Prophet, himself, gave his very life for his claims, and scores of others have suffered the pangs of death for their unflinching conviction of the divinity of Joseph Smith’s mission. The actual translation of the 522-page volume occupied about ninety days (about April 7, 1829 to July 1, 1829). No work, especially one sprinkled with so many related dates as is the Book of Mormon, of this size and literary quality could have been produced by one human being in such a short period of time.

There are many other evidences. For a discussion of them, the reader is referred to a book, Seven Claims of The Book of Mormon, prepared recently in London by Dr. John A. Widtsoe and Franklin S. Harris Jr.

The Book of Mormon, which supplements and supports but does not supplant the Bible, is a marvellous book with a divine origin. It is worthy of the perusal of every sincere seeker of truth.